Means for launching flying-machines.



G. H. CURTISS. MEANS POR' LAUNCHING FLYING MAGHINES.

APPLIOATIONI'ILED SEPT. 1, 1911.

' Pat-,Buma May 21, 1912.

GLENN H. CURTISS, oF HAMMoNDsroRT, NEW YORK.'

MEAS FOR LANCHING FLYING-MACHINES.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May ai, 1912.

. Application filed September 1', 1911'. Serial No.642,265.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, GLENN H. CURTISS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammondsport, in the county of Steuben and State of New York, `have invented certain new` and useful Improvements in Means for Launching Flying-Machines; Aand I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the` Same.

i This invention relates to launching appa-l rat-us for flying machines, and has for itsobject to produce a device which will be sim-' ple in construction, certain in action, and comparatively` inexpensive to install.

' To these ends the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter disclosed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to. the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification in which like numerals designatethe same parts in all the views Figure 1 is a sidejelevational View of one form of an apparatus built in laccordance with my invention; and, Fig. 2

is a top plan 'view of the same.

1 indicates any suitable support on which is mounted the movable platform 2 provided with the lugs 3 and 4, to which are re* spectively pivoted as at'7 and 8 the propelling arms or levers 5 and 6, as shown. The arm 5 may telescope or fit inside the arm 6, as indicated, and the spring 9 is secured at one end to the lug 10 carried by the arm 5, and at its other end to the lug 11 carried by the arm 6. In order that the saidV spring may be centrally located with respect to said arms,- the lug 11 may project through an elongated slot 12 in the arm 5, and thisv slot also permits said spring to pass through the same when said arms are in their upright positions, as shown in dot-ted lines, Fig. 1. The arms may further be connected, if desired, by the pivoted links 13 and 14 in order to render their operation launched.l

steady and more certain, and their curved outer ends provided with the braces 15 and 16. Any suitable shape ymay be given'said outer ends to accommodate-*the particular flying machine that 1s to .be7

type of For the type illustrated, I preferably provide the arm 5 withfthecurved,

accommodate suitable supports or lugs `19 on the machine20, while the extreme end'of the arm 6 may be notched as at 2l and 22 to accommodate the pin 23, on which'the ma chine Q0 may rest.

Any .suitable means suclias 24 may be employed to bring the parts in position, while a cord 25 and trigger mechanism 26 may be used tol release ysaid parts.

In operation, since the tension of the spring 9 will be exerted in the direction of the pivots 7 and 8, the turning moment will be small at irst, and therefore, the machine is not subjected to jars or shocks, but rises slowly and smoothly. The velocit-y, however, is greatly accelerated as the arms become elevated both on account of the `greater turningnioment, and also on account of the pivots taking more and more theweight of the machine, as said arms approach perpenr di'cular positions. It results from thisthat the machine is safely brought to its dotted line position after it has attained Aa maxi` mum velocity, and the further downward movement of the arms permits the momentum of the machine to carry it out clear of the apparatus.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the detailsof construction'and the arrangement yofparts without departing from the spirit of my invention. In fact, apparatus very dierent from that herein disclosed merely as an illustration of--my invention, could be provided, such for example, as a device employing compressed airv as the motive power, and therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the disclosure,

except as may be required by the claims.

What Iclaini is 1. In an aeroplane launching apparatus, the combination of a suitable mount; an aeroplane supporting Adevice pivotally 'mounted on said mount; andy means for imparting, at a variable speed, an angular throw to said supporting device, substantially as described.

2. In an aeroplane launchingeapparatus, the combination of a suitable mount; aeroplane supporting arms pivotally mounted on said mount and operable to swing in parallel relation thereon; and means for*v swinging said arms at a variable speed t'o'j4 :loo

launch the aeroplane, substantially aadp; 1-

scribed.

A :nev e 3, In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination of a suitable'E mount; and means comprising a plurality of independently pivoted spring controlled arms for supporting and imparting to the machinel a rapidly increasing swinging movement, substantially described.

l.L In an apparatus for launching flying machines, the combination of a plurality of arms upon which said machine is supported;

independent pivots for said arms; spring tially as described.

6. In an apparatus for launching a flying machine, the combination of a pair of arms adapted to litthe one Within the other; separated pivots on which said arms may turn;

a spring connecting said arms; and means associated With said arms adapted to support a flying. machine, substantially as dcscribed.

7. In an apparatus for launching a flying machine, the combination of a movable platform, a plurality of movable arms mounted on said platform adapted to support the machine, and means for actuating said arms, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for launching a lying machine, the combination of a support, a platformrotatably mounted on said support, a plurality of movable arms mounted on said platform adapted to support the machine, and means for actuating said arms, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in -presence of two Witnesses.

GLENN H. CURTISS.

Witnesses:

LENA P. CURTISS, G. R. HALL. 

